I See Sparks Fly Whenever You Smile

Alex

Waking up the morning of our show in Toronto, I could immediately sense that it was going to be a rough day. Brook was absent from the space next to me in our bunk, but the sound of her bickering outside the bunk was very present.

I was too tired and maybe still a little too hungover from the night before to have the energy to investigate what was going on between Jack and Brook. I brushed it off as typical older and younger sibling behavior, combined with being stuck on the bus together for a long over night drive, everyone was kind of on edge.

In an attempt to keep everyone thinking I was still asleep, I kept quiet and dug my phone out from under my pillow with the plan to check my e-mail and Twitter.

I swiped my thumb across the screen to unlock the phone and found that my Twitter app was already opened.

Recently, Brook had started going on my account to creep on her cousin Sami to make sure she wasn't doing anything bad - I told her I would let her know if Sam posted anything inappropriate, but she said she didn't trust me.

It must have taken her a few days to figure out how to use the app because after a couple of days I noticed someone had been posting pictures of me sleeping to my account with the caption "Xoxo, B." The fans really seemed to enjoy that.

This morning I noticed the app opened to Jack's page - more specifically to a picture he posted of Brook and I.

It was taken the night before. Someone had made a giant bonfire in the parking lot after the show was over and a bunch of us were just hanging around it, goofing off and drinking a few beers. Brook didn't want hers, so I finished them - which may explain the extra hangover this morning.

In the picture Brook was sitting between my legs, her back pressed against my front and her head leaning against my shoulder, tilting up towards me. I had my arms around her waist. She had a giant smile on her face - as if she was mid-laugh and I was leaning in to kiss her.

Admittedly - we did look incredibly cute but after reading the caption Jack added to the picture, I suddenly had some insight to why Brook seemed to have it out for Jack.

They seriously need to get married already.

I closed my Twitter app and disregarded my E-Mails before tossing my phone to the side and jumping down from my bunk.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stepped into the front lounge just in time to catch another blow up between Brook and Jack.

Brook had just reached for her box of cereal off the counter, shaking it and finding it to be left with nothing but crumbs.

"Sorry, Brook," Jack muttered from his seat not too far from where she was standing. "I was out and figured you wouldn't mind," he continued, a full bowl of cereal on his lap.

I could see the anger explode in her eyes and I was surprised when she didn't throw the empty box at his head.

"You know what, Jack? You're going to have to grow up sometime!" She snapped. "I mean really! You're the most selfish person on this bus. Everyone has to share with you - but Heaven forbid you share with anyone else. I don't know why everyone puts up with it-"

Having stepped in when I probably should have, Matt wrapped an arm around Brook's waist, dragging her off the bus still screaming and leaving Jack looking like a deer in headlights. As the door slammed closed and the screaming stopped, everyone turned their attention to me.

"Since when are you dating the freaking exorcist?" Jack hissed, standing from the couch and pushing passed me towards the back of the bus. He was clearly embarrassed by the whole thing.

I felt the burning stares from the assorted members of my band and our crew that were sitting in the front. Everyone seemed really confused about what just happened - myself included.

"I'll handle it," I finally said heading to the back to talk to Jack.

He was sitting on the couch, legs folded under him and a pout on his face like a six year old. "What the fuck was that?" he asked when he saw me.

"You shouldn't have posted that picture."

"What picture?" he asked.

"The one of me and Brook last night. You said we should just get married already," I explained.

"Okay," he said slowly, confused.

"Brook saw it. And now she's freaking out."

"What?" Jack shook his head. "It was a joke. And I was drunk when I posted it. She can't really take me seriously."

I signed. "Brook doesn't have much of a sense of humor when it comes to marriage."

"Okay. I get that she's all fucked up in that department - but why is she lashing out at me?"

I sighed again. "Well- This is where Brook gets complicated. She probably thinks because you posted that comment last night - that you're talking marriage with me - so she's probably mad at you for that and freaked out about the whole thing so she's acting crazy."

Jack signed. "Sorry dude. I didn't mean to freak her out like that. It was a joke. The picture was cute."

"I know. I'll talk to her and calm her down and I'm sure she'll feel terrible for what she said."

Jack shrugged. "It's fine. It's not like she's wrong. I know I'm a pain in the ass."

I nodded. "That's true. You are."
*****

Brook

"Matt, I don't know how you guys deal with him like that all the time. I'm seriously going to snap."

He raises his eyebrow. "Going to?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my eyes snapping to his.

"I'm just saying, you've long since snapped already."

"Can you blame me though? I mean, honestly! He's impossible!" I huffed.

"Brook," Matt sighed. "Can we talk about what this is really about?"

"What is this really about?" I asked, my attitude changing to one a bit more nervous.

Matt pulled me by the arm a little further away from the busses. It was as if he was afraid of anyone overhearing us.

"This is about something else bothering you and you're freaking out and taking it out on Jack."

"There- There is n-nothing going on with me," I stumbled over my words unsuccessfully convincing Matt of anything.

"Brook, don't lie to me, okay? I know what's going on," Matt insisted.

"There's nothing-"

"I know about the baby," Matt finally exclaimed.

I felt like I had whip-lash from how quickly my head snapped up to him.

"What?" was the only word I could muster.

"Does Alex know?" Matt asked me.

I looked down and squeezed my eyes shut tight, shaking my head no. I couldn't believe I was having this conversation. "How did you figure it out?"

"I saw you the other morning sneak into the bathroom with the tests when you thought everyone was asleep. But I've had my suspicions for a little longer."

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't been drinking coffee. You haven't been drinking alcohol. And let's not even mention the excessive mood swings."

"Does Alex have a clue?" I asked, nervously.

Matt shook his head. "I don't think so. I grew up around all women with my sisters. So I've been around this stuff all my life. Alex has no idea."

I took a big, shaky breath. "Look, I don't know for sure if this is really what's going on with me so I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell him until I was ready."

Matt nodded slowly. "I can't keep it from him forever, Brook. You need to tell him. Like today. And what do you mean you don't know for sure? What did the tests say?"

I took another big shaky breath, doing everything I could to will the tears in my eyes back. "They were really cheap tests. They were the only ones the rest stop pharmacy had. One said positive and one said negative."

"Okay," Matt said slowly, nodding again. "It could be a false positive than."

"Or a false negative." I had barely gotten the whole sentence from my mouth before I loud sob escaped my body and I could no longer keep my emotions in.

I was scared to death.